Brake for children s carriages



(No Model.)

F. E. CALDWELL. BRAKE FOR GHILDRENS OARRIAGES.

No. 60 3,006. Patented Apr. 26, 1898.

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FRANK E. CALDWELL, OF BROOKLYN, NEYV YORK.

BRAKE FOR CHILDRENS CARRIAGES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 603,005, dated April 26,1898. Application filed July 16, 1897. Serial No. 644,765. (No model.)

To all whom it 71211. concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK E. CALDWELL,

, of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State larly is to provide an efiective brake in which a friction-brake is located at the hub of one of the wheels of the carriage, the band or strap of the said brake having a connection with a rotary clutch located at or near the handle of the carriage, the rotation of the clutch serving to operate the brake.

A practical embodiment of my invention is represented in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents a side view of the rear portion of a baby-carriage with the wheel nearest the observer removed, showinga part of its hub and the rear axle in section. Fig. 2 is a back View of the carriage. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail back view, partially in section, of the brake, its operating-clutch, and the adjacent parts thereto; and Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail side view, partially in section, of the parts shown in Fig. 3.

The body of the carriage is denoted by A, and it is supported by suitable springs B upon side-bars O, which side -bars are extended rearwardly and upwardly at the back of the carriage and at their upper ends are connected by a handle-bar D. The rear axle of the carriage is denoted by E, and it is provided upon its opposite ends, exterior to the side-bars O, with suitable traction-wheels F, their hubs f being mounted to rotate upon the said axle E in any suitable manner.

The band-brake, which is located at the hub of one of the wheels F, consists of a suitable spool G, around the periphery of which is adapted to pass the band or strap 1-1. The

spool G is secured rigidly to the hub f by suitable fastening devices-such, for instance, as screws gso as to form an extension of the said hub inwardly toward the side-bars C. The strap or band II is secured rigidly to the side-bar O by means of a short connectingpiece h, and the free end of the said strap H is connected to the clutch at the handle, to be hereinafter described, in anysuitable manner-such as, for instance, by a chain I. The drawing up of the said chain serves to cause the band H to snugly engage the periphery of the spool G, and thereby prevents the rotation of the wheel F.

To form a more perfect brake, 1 preferably provide the spool G with a corrugated periphery and corrugate the band H similarly, so as to fit within the corrugations upon the spool when the band is tightened. In the accompanying drawings I have shown these peripheral corrugations formed by securing a suitable corrugated band 9' around the periphery of the spool G.

The operating-clutch, to which the connection I from the brake is attached, consists of a stationary member or plate J and a rotary member or handle K, which is adapted to interlock therewith in any of its rotary positions by means of a series of pins and recesses, the one carried by the stationary part and the other by the rotary part. In the present instance the stationary plate J is provided with a series of recesses j around its face, and the handle K is provided with a series of projecting pins in, adapted to enter the said recesses.

The plate J is mounted against rotary movement upon the end of the handle-bar D, and the handle K is mounted to rotate upon the end of the handle-bar D exterior to the plate J, the said handle K being allowed a limited longitudinal sliding movement upon the said handle-bar.

The outward sliding movement of the handle K is limited by means of a removable cap d, which is fastened to the end of the handlebar D, in the present instance by means of a suitable screw (Z. The handle K is yieldingly held at the limit of its inward movement,with the pins k in engagement-with the recesses j, by means of a suitable spring L within the handle K and pressing at its inner end ICO against an abutment upon the said handle and at its outer end against the cap or retaining-block (1.

As heretofore stated, the flexible connection I is fastened at its upper end to the handle K, and as the handle is rotated the connection I will be wound upon or unwound from the periphery of the said handle.

The operation of my invention is as follows: Supposing that it be desired to brake the carriage, the handle K of the clutch is first slid outwardly until the pins are freed from their recesses. The handle is then rotated, which will wind the chain I up, thereby drawing the band H snuglyinto engagement with its spool G upon the hub of the wheel. The handle K is then permitted to return to its normal position with its pins in engagement with the recesses. Because of the series of recesses and pins the brake can be applied to a greater or less degree to the Wheel, so as to render it easy to propel the carriage downhill, where it is not desirable to stop it absolutely.

While I have described the operating-clutch as located upon the end of the handle-bar D, it is obvious that the said clutch could be located upon a separate pin located near the said handle-bar, if so desired. It is also evident that slight changes might be resorted to in the construction, form, and arrangement of the several parts without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. Hence I do not wish to limit myself strictly to the structure herein set forth; but

What I claim is- 1. The combination with one of the wheels of a baby-carriage, of a brake comprising a spool carried by the hub of the wheel and a brake-band mounted in position to engage and disengage the said spool, an operatingclutch mounted to rotate upon the handlebar of the carriage and connected with the said brake-band, whereby the rotation of the clutch serves to operate the brake and a pinand-recess connection between the said clutch and the handle-bar for locking the clutch in any of its rotary positions, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination with a brake carried by the hub, of one of the wheels of a babycarriage, of an operating-clutch connected therewith for operating the brake, comprising a stationary part and a movable part mountedat or near the handle-bar the one provided with a series of recesses and the other with a series of pins adapted to enter the series of recesses, the said movable part having a sliding movement toward and away from the stationary part and a spring for yieldingly holding the movable part in engagement with the stationary part, substantially as set forth.

3. A brake for baby-carriages, comprising aspool carried by the hub of one of the wheels of the carriage, the said spool having a corrugated periphery and a brake-band mounted in position to engage and disengage the said spool, the said brake-band having corrugations corresponding to the corrugations upon the periphery of the spool and means located at or near the handle-bar of the carriage connected with the said band for operating the brake, substantially as set forth.

FRANK E. CALDWELL.

YVitnesses:

FREDK. HAYNES, GEORGE BARRY, Jr. 

